Jail for pair who acted as ‘gardeners’ in £800,000 cannabis farm

A duo described as ‘gardeners’ have been jailed for being concerned in the production of cannabis in Huntingdonshire.

Officers carried out a raid at a house in Straight Drove, Farcet, in December last year and found about £800,000 worth of cannabis plants along with Ken Nguyen, 26, and Phu Nguyen, 24.

Police said the pair were in hiding when they arrived.

With every room in the house being used to grow the plant, both men, of no fixed address, were arrested for being concerned in the cultivation of cannabis.

A couple of days later the men were both charged with being concerned in the production of cannabis.

Peterborough Crown Court heard how both men were in the UK illegally and had been asked to help grow what they believed to be Bonsai trees and tomato plants.

On Friday (June 15) the pair appeared at crown court. Ken was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty following a trial. While Phu was sentenced to a year and 10 months in prison after pleading guilty earlier this year.

In sentencing, Judge Matthew Lowe said the men were at the bottom of the chain in the professional set up at the house and that they would serve half their sentences before being transferred to an immigration detention centre.

Detective Sergeant Kelly Gray, from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU), said: “We will never tolerate those who wish to bring harm to our communities through the production of illegal drugs so we’re pleased that these men, who were also in the country illegally, will serve time behind bars.”